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The NHL hockey stars are gone from these Olympics, but the American kids look ready to take advantage.
The youngest team in the tournament went toe-to-toe, skate-to-skate with its chief rival, holding off Canada, 4-2, in an important group-play showdown Saturday at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing.
When it looked as if Team USA was in trouble, following a hectic end to the second period, it was Kenny Agostino, from Morristown, N.J., whose one-timer at 6:13 of the third period trickled through Canadian goalie Eddie Pasquale and allowed the Americans breathing room with a 4-2 lead.
Former Rangers coach David Quinn’s Team USA (2-0) has positioned itself well with one preliminary game remaining and looks poised to be a top seed entering the elimination round.
Along with the tally from Agostino — who played with the Devils in 2018-19 — Team USA received goals from captain Andy Miele (who played with the Coyotes from 2011-14), Ben Meyers (University of Minnesota) and Brendan Brisson (University of Michigan).
If nerves got to the Americans, who feature five teenagers and are composed mostly of college players, it showed early. A turnover in the neutral zone led to a throw-in from Canada’s Mat Robinson squeaking through 1:24 into play.
But the Red, White and Blue answered back just over a minute later, the first of three straight goals. Canada (1-1) sliced the gap to 3-2 in the second period and had an opportunity for former Islander Josh Ho-Sang, who faced an open net — but couldn’t hit the puck cleanly.
The Canadians had their chances, including back-to-back power plays and a brief 5-on-3 in the third period, but American goalie Strauss Mann (35 saves) was too much.
The Americans cruised in the Olympics opener with an 8-0 victory over China, and Canada began group play with a 5-1 win over Germany. Team USA will finish up its preliminary round play against Germany on Sunday and should be well-positioned entering the elimination round.
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The NHL, at the last minute, opted against letting its players enter the Olympics amid coronavirus concerns.
The NHL also disallowed its players from competing in the 2018 Olympics, which opened the door for the Olympic Athletes from Russia (the country of Russia had been barred from the PyeongChang Games) — with its professional leagues accommodating an Olympic break — to win gold.
American men have not won a Games since the storied victory at Lake Placid in 1980. They last medaled (a silver) in Vancouver in 2010.
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